Skip to main content
Nutrition

The Alkaline Diet | A Detailed Review

Casey Walker
Experienced Sports Nutrition Technologist6 years ago
View Casey Walker's profile

 The Alkaline Diet

When talking about diets, it’s fair to say that there are a lot out there. In fact, generally speaking, there is pretty much every type of diet out there that you could imagine. Because of this, finding the right diet for you is anything but easy, and if anything, it can be a little overwhelming. Remember, diets are not only for people looking to lose weight, in fact, diets should primarily be followed for health reasons as opposed to aesthetics, as diets do not have to result in weight loss.

 

Rather than referring to diets as diets, in most cases, it would be more appropriate to refer to them as lifestyle changes instead. One diet that has been grabbing the headlines recently for all of the right reasons, is the alkaline diet, and it is this diet which we’ll be looking at today. Praised by health and medical experts alike, the alkaline diet is considered a real winner in the eyes of many, due to the fact that it not only assists with weight loss, but also because it helps increase longevity, and promotes overall health and well-being in the process. Here’s a detailed review of the alkaline diet.

veg

What Is The Alkaline Diet?

 

Before we go any further, it’s important that we bring you up to speed on what the alkaline diet actually is. Put simply, the alkaline diet is a specific diet plan which encourages followers of the diet to consume a variety of healthy foods that are designed to help make their bodies a great deal more alkaline internally.

 

Studies have found that diets rich in high acidic foods, and low in alkaline foods, can put you at a greater risk of all kinds of health and medical ailments. Most foods and beverages that make up the average diet in the western world, however, are unfortunately high in acid, or high in compounds that promote acidic environments within the body. For optimal health and wellness, the alkaline diet requires followers of the diet to consume far less high acid foods, and higher alkaline foods instead.

super green smoothie recipe

Getting The Correct Balance

 

In order for your body and organs to work in synergy with one another, it is important that you get just the right balance of acid and alkaline within the body, and this is where people tend to go wrong. In order for the body to function at its best, it relies heavily on the correct ratios of acids and alkalines within the blood, urine, lymph nodes, and other internal fluids.

 

High concentrations of acid can cause damage to the body and to nearby internal organs, which can then have a knock-on effect on other organs in other parts of the body as well, due to the fact that everything is connected. Large concentrations of acid are known as acidosis, and it is caused by unhealthy foods, a lack of exercise, low glucose levels, and unhealthy lifestyle choices. Ideally, you want an internal PH of around 7.3 – 7.4.

Why Is Acidosis Dangerous?

 

Acidosis is dangerous because high acid environments in the body can result in your body buffering these acids with alkaline reserves, meaning alkaline levels drop even further. The bones in particular, often suffer because in order to buffer the acids, alkaline minerals including calcium and magnesium, leech from the bones to counterbalance the acidosis, meaning that calcium and magnesium levels within the bones suffer, which ultimately damages the bones.

almonds

What Can You Eat & Drink?

 

There are a number of foods and drinks you can consume whilst on the alkaline diet, and they certainly aren’t fancy or complex, but they’re good for you, they taste great, and they get the job done. As an example, common alkaline diet foods and drinks include:

 

? Vegetables

? Plant-based proteins

? Most fresh fruits

? Raw foods

? Green smoothies and juices

? Alkaline water

?Almonds

?Coconut oil

? Avocado oil

? Tofu

? Legumes

 

Unsuitable foods and drinks – Now we’ll look at a few foods and drinks that are unsuitable for people on alkaline diets. These include:

 

? Processed meat

? Dairy

? Eggs

? Grains

? Alcohol

? Fruit juice

? Caffeinated drinks

? Citrus fruits

? Walnuts and peanuts

? Sauces and condiments

? Seafood

? Sweeteners

Our articles should be used for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be taken as medical advice. If you're concerned, consult a health professional before taking dietary supplements or introducing any major changes to your diet.

Casey Walker
Experienced Sports Nutrition Technologist
View Casey Walker's profile

Casey Walker is an experienced sports nutrition new product development technologist. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Sports and Exercise Science and a Master of Science in Sports Sciences and Physiology.

Casey’s scientific research area of expertise lies in the effects of dietary nitrates on sprint performance and exercise-induced muscle damage. He has also worked as a sports scientist for a medal-winning Paralympic track cyclist, with a goal of qualifying for the Rio 2016 Paralympics.

Find out more about Casey’s experience here.

In his spare time, Casey is a keen middle-distance runner with an interest in triathlon. He’s always looking out for the latest blends and supplements to improve his half-marathon time and recovery.

myprotein